Online chat: Enterprise creation in Africa

Marieme Jamme, philanthropist and entrepreneur, David Otieno and Caroline Alango, from the organisation Africa Now, and Michael Opiyo, a beneficiary of an enterprise project, will be live online on the Katine Chronicles blog at 11am (GMT) on Monday, 26 April, to answer your questions and debate whether business is the way out of poverty in Africa. Post a question

But will small-scale projects and short-term support bring lasting change? What support do people need? And how can long-term prosperity be achieved? We've gathered together four people with experience of business and entrepreneurship to discuss the issues.

At 11am (GMT) on Monday, 26 April, the philanthropist and entrepreneur Marieme Jamme, David Otieno, a country representative in Kenya for the international development organisation Africa Now, Caroline Alango, manager of the Rich Fisheries, Poor Fisherfolk project (RFPR) at Africa Now, and Michael Opiyo, a fisherman and beneficiary of an enterprise project, will be live online to answer your questions on how enterprise is changing Africa and what the future could hold.

Marieme Jamme, entrepreneur. Photograph: Marieme Jamme

Jamme was born in Senegal, west Africa, and is a London-based philanthropist, international speaker and social entrepreneur. She is CEO of SpotOne Global Solutions, a company that connects IT organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She is the founder of iConscience.co.uk, a thinktank that brings together business experts to debate sustainable business, social, environmental and technological ideas in Africa. She also co-founded Africa Gathering, a platform to discuss ideas and projects for Africa. Africa Gathering events are already being held in Washington DC, Paris, London and Nairobi and are being organised for Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania.

Africa Now's David Otieno. Photograph: Africa Now

Otieno has worked in the development sector for 20 years. He has a masters in development administration and management from the University of Manchester in the UK and a masters in child development from Daysgar University in Nairobi. Africa Now supports farmers and small businesses to produce and sell better products. The organisation believes in offering a hand up, rather than a hand-out, helping farmers with financial matters, getting a fair price for their goods and offering advice on training and new technology.

Born in the Suba district of Kenya, which borders Lake Victoria, Alango has vast experience of the issues facing fishing communities, as well as of education, women's rights and HIV/Aids. She has a bachelor of education degree from Kenyatta University and a professional diploma in project management from the Kenya Institute of Management.

Michael Opiyo is a fisherman from Remba Island on Lake Victoria, Kenya, and is secretary of the Sango fishing group, one of 18 established in the region through the RFPF project. He is also chairman of group that monitors the project. He is married with five children.

Post a question or comment now or come back on Monday to join the debate.

If you have problems posting, email Katine.editor@guardian.co.uk.

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